Modulation of Gut Microbiota by Essential Oils and Inorganic Nanoparticles: Impact in Nutrition and Health

Abstract

Microbiota plays a crucial role in human health and disease; therefore, the modulation of this complex and yet widely unexplored ecosystem is a biomedical priority. Numerous antibacterial alternatives have been developed in recent years, imposed by the huge problem of antibioresistance, but also by the people demand for natural therapeutical products without side effects, as dysbiosis, cyto/hepatotoxicity. Current studies are focusing mainly in the development of nanoparticles (NPs) functionalized with herbal and fruit essential oils (EOs) to fight resistant pathogens. This is due to their increased efficiency against susceptible, multidrug resistant and biofilm embedded microorganisms. They are also studied because of their versatile properties, size and possibility to ensure a targeted administration and a controlled release of bioactive substances. Accordingly, an increasing number of studies addressing the effects of functional nanoparticles and plant products on microbial pathogens has been observed. Regardless the beneficial role of EOs and NPs in the treatment of infectious diseases, concerns regarding their potential activity against human microbiota raised constantly in recent years. The main focus of current research is on gut microbiota (GM) due to well documented metabolic and immunological functions of gut microbes. Moreover, GM is constantly exposed to micro- and nano-particles, but also plant products (including EOs). Because of the great diversity of both microbiota and chemical antimicrobial alternatives (i.e., nanomaterials and EOs), here we limit our discussion on the interactions of gut microbiota, inorganic NPs and EOs. Impact of accidental exposure caused by ingestion of day care products, foods, atmospheric particles and drugs containing nanoparticles and/or fruit EOs on gut dysbiosis and associated diseases is also dissected in this paper. Current models developed to investigate mechanisms of dysbiosis after exposure to NPs/EOs and perspectives for identifying factors driving EOs functionalized NPs dysbiosis are reviewed.

Pharmacokinetic and Permeation Studies in Rat Brain of Natural Compounds Led to Investigate Eugenol as Direct Activator of Dopamine Release in PC12 Cells

“…These extremely low F values suggest a potential use of these formulations for chronic daily oral administrations deputed to the microbiota maintenance, without producing a significant impact to the other compartments of the body. The components of EOs are indeed known as potent modulators of gut inflammation and microbiota ecology [ 34 ]. It is important to consider that brain neurochemistry is affected by gut microbiota according to the so called “gut–brain axis”; in particular, the two systems cooperate in a bidirectional way, both to regulate the absorption of nutrients in the intestine by CNS and to maintain the homeostasis of the CNS by regulating the permeability of the intestinal barrier [ 14 ].…”

Essential oils: a systematic review on revolutionizing health, nutrition, and omics for optimal well-being

“…In addition, rigorous human clinical trials are required to validate efficacy as a natural food preservative and to determine optimal dosage (71)(72)(73). The effect on the gut microbiome is promising, but it is not yet clear what specific changes in bacterial composition drive the observed health outcomes (68,74).…”

Plant Monoterpenes and Essential Oils as Potential Anti-Ageing Agents: Insights from Preclinical Data

“…Overall, the essential oil emulsions in mice supplemented with Lcarnitine showed prebiotic effects on beneficial commensal bacteria, mainly the Lactobacillus genus [199]. Furthermore, a review carried out on the modulation of gut microbiota by essential oils and inorganic nanoparticles showed that essential oils are widely studied for their gastrointestinal interference, being potent modulators for gut inflammation, metabolic reactions and microbiota diversity [200].…”